Germany Controlling South-West Africa, Britain Controlling India,

¶ … Germany controlling South-West Africa, Britain controlling India, imperialistic attitudes 'ruling' countries differed / similar. The main differences similarities-based relationships European countries respective countries, actions militaries natives line, natives retaliated.

In spite of the fact that the Imperialist Era has had a severe effect on society as a whole, Imperialist nations have taken different attitudes in colonizing new territories. One of the primary purposes of actors like Britain and Germany was to exploit the territories that they conquered with little to no regard concerning the individuals who previously inhabited these areas. However, while the British accepted the idea of having colonists live alongside of indigenous populations, the Germans were less enthusiastic concerning the concept and focused on removing native populations from some of the territories that they conquered. While one might initially be inclined to consider that British control in India and German control in South-West Africa was relatively similar, the two colonies were actually very different and this can be observed through the influences that these two powers had on the people that they conquered.

It would be pointless for someone to argue the true intentions of installing colonies when considering the British and the Germans during the Imperialist Era. These two powers primarily wanted to exploit countries and individuals they came across with the purpose of gaining profits for the empires as a whole. They both acknowledged the potential that South-West Africa and India had and went through great efforts with the intention of imposing their power in these territories.

Conditions were initially the same in the two colonies, considering that both colonizing powers installed companies with the purpose of controlling exploits in the areas and that disputes between them and locals were not necessarily widespread. Many locals in India actually joined the British in their endeavor and got actively engaged in assisting them overthrow individuals who did not appreciate that they would come to be controlled by a foreign power. Similarly, even with the fact that the locals in South-West Africa did not actually appreciate that their lands were taken from them, they did not collaborate in criticizing the German colony during its early years.

As both colonies developed the situation changed and it became obvious that both Britain and Germany would have to perform great efforts with the purpose of having locals understand that they were determined to stay. Although they initially appeared to have success, both the South West Africa Company and the East India Company eventually failed and power was transferred to the German, and respectively, to the British governments.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the two colonies regards the way that locals were seen by colonizing powers. The British accepted that they had to live alongside of Indians and did not hesitate to present these individuals with English customs in an attempt to have them assimilated by the British Empire. In contrast, the Germans believed that locals in South West Africa represented an impediment in their struggle to incorporate the territory into the German Empire. As a consequence, even with the fact that the British also encountered rebellions and fought Indians throughout their stay in India, the Germans adopted much harsher attitudes and concentrated on removing locals from the territory.

All things considered, the Imperialist Era and its effects can be observed throughout the world by seeing nations and the fact that they were influenced or by studying historic facts regarding powers like Imperial Britain and Imperial Germany. Although it is only safe to say that both powers were wrong in subjugating individuals in the territories that they conquered, the Germans surely installed a much worse system in South West Africa when compared to the one that the British installed in India.